Patent Grant
11986745
This application is a U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/052190, filed on 29 Jan. 2020 and published on 6 Aug. 2020, as WO2020/157148, which claims the benefit of priority to Danish Patent Application No. PA 2019 70055, filed on 29 Jan. 2019. The content of each of the above referenced patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for any purpose whatsoever.
The present invention relates to a toy top launcher for launching a toy top and toy system comprising a toy top launcher and a toy top, a toy top launcher adapter, and a method of launching a toy top.
Toy tops are devices often formed as rotation symmetrical objects which may be brought to spin/rotate on a surface, such as a table or a floor. Toy tops are sometimes referred to as toy spinners, or spinner tops. However, in the context of the present invention they will be referred to as toy tops.
A toy top may be brought to spin simply by a user spinning the toy top between e.g. an index finger and the thumb in a counteracting motion. Toy tops may be used, especially as toys for children. Toy tops may be used to battle, where to users simultaneously or consecutively launches their toy tops on a surface, where after the toy tops may spin around and/or bounce on the surface, and bump into each other.
Such collisions may cause a toy top to be knocked of a predefined portion of the surface or be caused to tilt and stop spinning. Thereby, a set of toy tops may be used to battle, where for example the user having the toy top spinning for the longest time, or staying within a predefined portion of a surface may win.
In order to increase the spinning momentum of a toy top a number of different toy tops launchers are known in the art. On example is shown in the US patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,918. The patent discloses a mechanism with a rotatable shaft driven by a coil spring to rotate a socket in which a toy top may be placed. When sufficient rotation of the toy top is reached, the rotation of the socket is stopped, and a set of cooperating helical threads on the toy top and in the socket, will cause the toy top to be expelled from the socket. The spring coil construction makes the toy top launching mechanism complex and large. Coil springs have a tendency to over stretch. Further, in order to launch the toy top the coil spring of mechanism must be continuously rewound. In order to provide sufficient power to the toy top, thecoil spring must be quite long. Therefore, the rewinding of the coil spring may take very long, which is a disadvantage, for example in a battle situation, where a user may want to launch a series of toy tops quickly after each other. Further the long rotatable shaft supporting the coil spring and numerous interacting parts makes the mechanism fragile to rough handling, and thus prone to break more easily in the hands of an exited child.
There is therefore a need for a robust device for launching toy tops, which is also simple in structure and may be more compact than in the prior art. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a robust device for launching toy tops, which is also simple in structure and may be more compact than in the prior art. It is also an object of the invention to increase the variety of options.
In a first aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objects of the invention are achieved by toy top launcher for launching a toy top comprising at least a launcher adapter, the toy top launcher comprising
Thus, when a launcher adapter is placed in the barrel, and the second end of the lever arm is pushed, the lever arm is rotated, causing the launcher adapter to be pushed along a longitudinal axis of the barrels, and being rotated by the mating screw threads on the launcher adapter and in the barrel.
Thereby a very simple, easy to manufacture, robust toy top launcher is achieved.
In an embodiment, the housing of the toy top launcher has a flat lower surface defining a plane, and the barrel has a longitudinal axis, which forms an acute first angle with said plane. Thereby, when a toy top is launched from the toy top launcher placed on a surface (such as a table or a floor) the toy top will follow a trajectory extending both in the vertical and horizontal direction.
Preferably, the first angle is 50-80°, more preferably 60-70°, such as 65°.
Objects of the invention may further be obtained—in a second aspect of the invention by a toy system comprising a toy top and a toy top launcher, wherein the toy top comprises at least a launcher adapter, wherein the toy top launcher comprises
In an embodiment the first screw thread is formed as one or more elongate helical beads radially extending from a wall of the barrel, and where the second screw thread is formed as a matching number of helical grooves formed in an outer surface of the launcher adapter. Alternatively, the first screw thread may be formed as one or more elongate helical grooves formed in a side wall of the barrel, and where the second screw thread is formed as a matching number of helical beads radially extending from an outer wall of the launcher adapter.
In a further embodiment thereof, the elongate helical beads radially extending from a wall of the barrel or from the outer wall of the launcher adapter are punctuated into bead sections.
Alternatively, the first screw thread is formed as one or more notches in a launch flange surrounding an opening of said barrel, and wherein the second screw thread is formed as a matching number of helical elongate beads formed on and extending from an outer surface of the launcher adapter.
It will be appreciated that features of the described embodiments of the toy top launcher of the toy system of the second aspect of the invention may be applied in the above mentioned toy top launcher according to the first aspect of the invention as well. Also, it will be appreciated that the features of the embodiments of the toy top launcher according to the first aspect of the invention may form embodiments of the toy system according to the second aspect of the invention as well.
Objects of the invention may further be obtained—in a third aspect of the invention—by a launcher adapter for a toy top, the launcher adapter comprising an adapter body having a first end surface and a second end surface, and a cylindrical outer surface and a screw thread arranged at the outer surface, wherein the first end surface is provided with attachment means of a first type being configured for cooperating with attachment means of a second type. Thereby, the launcher adapter 20 may be connected to a main body portion of a toy top, where the main body portion of the toy top has attachment means of the second type. Further, this will allow the launch of a toy top comprising at least the launcher adapter, from a toy top launcher according to the first aspect of the invention, or for use in a toy system according to any of the embodiments of the toy system according to the second aspect of the invention.
In an embodiment, the second end surface of the launcher adapter is provided with a rounding or rounded shape.
Objects of the invention may further—in a fourth aspect of the invention—be obtained by a method of launching a toy top, the method comprising
Thereby, a launch of the toy top comprising at least a launcher adapter provided, where the launcher adapter is both rotated and induced with a linear motion.
It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising/comprised of” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.
In the following the toy top launcher 30 according to one aspect and the toy system 1 according to another aspect of the invention will be described in greater detail.
The toy system 1 according to an aspect of the invention comprises a toy top launcher 30 and toy top 10. The toy top 10 comprises at least a launcher adapter 20.
The launcher adapter 20 is arranged at the second end 11″ of the main body portion 11 of the toy top 10. The launcher adapter 20 is configured for cooperating with a toy top launcher 30. The toy top launcher 30, see e.g.
In some embodiments, the launcher adapter 20 and the main body portion 11 may be formed as one integrated unit to form a toy top 10. However, as shown in e.g.
Now referring to
The adapter body 21 of the launcher adapter 20 has a first end 21′ and a second end 21″, a side surface 25 extending between the first end 21′ and the second end 21″, and a second end surface 23 formed at the second end 21″ thereof. In embodiments, where the launcher adapter 20 is integrally formed with the main body portion 11, the second end 11″ of the main body portion 11 and the first end 21′ of the adapter body 21 coincide.
In embodiments, where the launcher adapter 20 is releasably connectable to the main body portion 11 of the toy top 10, the launcher adapter 20 comprises a first end surface 22, formed at the first end 21′ of the adapter body 21. The first end surface 22 of the adapter body 21 may comprise attachment means of a first type 24.
In embodiments, where the launcher adapter 20 is releasably connectable to the main body portion 11 of the toy top 10, the main body portion 11 comprises a second end surface (not shown) provided at the second end 11″ of the main body portion 11. In this case the second end surface of the main body portion 11, comprises attachment means of a second type 14 which are configured for cooperating with the attachment means of a the first type 24 on the first end surface 22 of the adapter body.
So, the attachment means of the first type 24 are complementary to the attachment means of the second type 14, in such a way that e.g. one main body part 11 may releasably be attached to an adapter body 20, by a friction fit, such as is known in the art of toy building blocks.
The first type of attachment means 24 are preferably formed on, and extending from, the first end surface 22 of the adapter body 21.
The second type of attachment means 14 are preferably formed in the second end surface 13 of the main body portion 11.
In embodiments, and as indicated in e.g. the
As shown in
The second type of attachment means 14 are preferably one or more indentations shaped and sized and spaced apart to cooperate with the knobs. The second type of attachment means 14 is not shown in the view provided in
It will be appreciated that (in not shown embodiments) the complementary first and second type of attachment means 24, 14 (e.g. knobs and indentations) may be reversed between the parts 11, 20.
The launcher adapter 20 may be formed in a material such as plastic. The launcher adapter 20 may be formed in an injection molding process.
The main body portion 11 of the toy top 10 may be formed in a material such as plastic. The main body portion 11 of the toy top 10 may be formed in an injection molding process.
In embodiments the main body portion 11 of the toy top 10 and the launcher adapter 20 may be formed integrally as a single unit, and in a material such as plastic. The main body portion 11 of the toy top 10 and the launcher adapter 20 may be formed integrally in an injection molding process.
The toy top launcher 30 comprises a housing 40, a barrel/launcher port 50 formed in the housing 40, and a lever arm 60 pivotally connectable to the housing 40.
The housing 40 comprises a main body part 41 having an upper surface 42 and a flat lower surface 43, and a set of side walls 44 connecting the upper surface 42 and the flat lower surface 43. The flat lower surface 43 is configured for cooperating with another flat surface (not shown) such as a table or a floor, or another toy, such as e.g. a toy building block or a toy construction made of toy building blocks. The flat lower surface 43 thereby allows for a stable connection to another flat surface.
The flat lower surface 43 of the main body part 41 of the housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30 defines a plane, P, see
The flat lower surface 43 of the toy top launcher 30 may be provided with attachment means, such as the second type of attachment means 14 described above, and as shown in e.g.
The main body part 41 of the housing 40 is preferably partially hollow. The main body part 41, in the embodiment shown, comprises two parallelly arranged side walls 44, a front 45, and a back surface 46. The side walls 44, the front wall 45 and the back surface 46 may, as shown, extend vertically. The main body part 41 may further comprise an upper or top wall 42. The upper wall 42 may, as shown, extend horizontally. The two parallelly arranged side walls 44 extends between an upper rim 41′ and lower rim 41″ The upper wall 42 preferably connects the two parallelly arranged side walls 44 at the upper rims 41′, thereof. The main body part 41 may have an open bottom surface 43, forming an opening into the hollow of the main body part 41. The back surface 46 is preferably also open to allow portions of the lever arm 60 to extend there through, as described in further detail below. The main body part 41 preferably further comprises a slanted surface 47.
As shown the slanted surface 47 extends between the front surface 45 and the upper surface 42. However it will be appreciated that in other, not shown embodiments, the slanted surface may extend from the upper wall 42 to the lower rim 41″ of the main body part 41.
The upper wall 42 may, as shown in e.g.
The main body part 41 of the housing 40 may be formed in material such as plastic. The main body part 41 of the housing 40 may be formed in an injection molding process.
The housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30 may further comprise a plate 49. The plate 49 and the main body part 41 of the housing 40 may preferably, and as shown in e.g.
The plate 49 comprises a flat lower surface 49′ defining a plane. The plate 49 is preferably formed at a lower side of the main body part 41 of the housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30. The flat lower surface 43 of the main body part 41 of the housing 30 may form part of a lower surface 49″ of the plate 49, such that the plane, P, defined by the flat lower surface 43 of the main body part 41, and the plane defined by the lower flat surface 49″ of the plate 49 coincide.
Attachment means of the second type 14 may be formed in the entire lower surface 43, 49″ of the plate 49. Thereby, the plate 49 of the toy top launcher 30 may be releasably connected to toy building block or a toy construction set of toy building blocks with at least attachment means of the first type 24.
The plate 49 also comprises an upper surface 49′. The main body part 41 preferably extends upward from the upper surface 49′ of the plate 49. The upper surface 49′ of the plate 49 may in embodiments, and as shown, be provided with attachment means. Preferably, the attachment means on the upper surface 49′ of the plate 49 are of the first type of attachment means 24, described above.
Thereby, the toy top launcher 30 may be configured for cooperating with for example toy building blocks having at least attachment means of the second type 14.
In not shown embodiments, the plate 49 and the main body part 41 of the housing 40 may constitute individually formed parts, being releasably connectable to the each other. In this case, an entire upper face 49′ of the plate 49 may be provided with attachment means of the first type 24, and the lower flat surface 43 of the housing 40 may be provided with attachment means of the second type 14, whereby the housing 40 may be connected on the plate 44. It will be appreciated, that in this case the plane, P, defined by the flat lower surface 43 of the housing 40 is parallel to the flat lower surface 44″ of the plate 44, but not coinciding therewith.
The above mentioned barrel 50 comprises a cylindrical hole or opening 51 in the main body 41 of the housing 40, and an inner side wall 52, and is configured for receiving a launcher adapter 20. The barrel 53 forms an elongate hole 53 in the housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30, the barrel 50 having a longitudinal axis C, The inner side wall 52 preferably has a circular cross section, .i.e. the barrel 50 forms a generally cylindrical hole inside the housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30. A diameter of the barrel 50 may preferably be equal to, or slightly larger, than a diameter of adapter body 21 of the launcher adapter 20.
The opening 51 into the barrel 50 preferably, and as shown is provided through the slanted surface 47 described of the main body part 41 of the housing 40.
The longitudinal axis C of the barrel 50 preferably forms an angle first angle, V, relative to the plane, P, of the lower surface 43, 49″ of the housing 40, which first angle is preferably acute. Preferably, the first angle V is in the interval 50-80°, preferably 60-70°, such as 65°, see e.g.
The main body 41 of the housing 40 further comprises a lever arm 60 pivotally connected to the housing 40. The lever arm 60 is configured for providing a motion of a toy top 10 received in the barrel 50 of the housing 40 in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the barre. 50, such that the toy top 10 may be launched/ejected from the launching device 30.
The lever arm 60 is an elongate structure comprising an elongate body 61. The lever arm may further comprise pivot axle part 62 extending transversely to the elongate body 61 of the lever arm 60. The elongate body 61 of the lever arm 60 has a first end 60′ and a second end 60″ opposite to the first end 60′. The pivot axle part 62 is pivotally connected to the housing 40 of the launching device 30, preferably to the side walls 44 of the main body part 41 of the housing 40. For example, opposite ends of the pivot axle part 62 may be pivotally/rotationally received into holes/openings 48 in the side walls 44 of the housing 40. In other embodiments, and a shown, a through-going, longitudinal hole 66 through the pivot axle part 62 (in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongate body of the lever arm 60) may be formed to receive a (not shown) pivot axle, which may extend through through-going, longitudinal hole 66 and through openings/holes in the side walls 44 of the housing 40 to provide a rotational connection between the housing 40 and the lever arm 60.
The elongate body 61 of the lever arm 62 comprises a first portion 63 extending towards the first end 60′ of the lever arm from the pivot axle part 62 of the lever arm 60. The first portion of the elongate body 61 of the lever arm 60 extends into the barrel 50 formed in the housing 40, such that the first end 60′ of the elongate body 61 of the lever arm 62 is approximate to the longitudinal axis C of the barrel 50.
The elongate body 61 of the lever arm 62 further comprises a second portion 64 extending towards the second end 60″ of the lever arm 60 from the pivot axle part 62 of the lever arm 60. The second portion 64 of the elongate body 61 of the lever arm 60 extends away from the barrel 50 and preferably towards out of an opening formed through the back surface 46 of the housing 40, such that the second end 60″ of the elongate body 61 of the lever arm 62 extends out of the housing, where it may be accessed by a user to rotate/pivot the level arm 60, which will be described in further detail below.
As shown in e.g.
Returning now to e.g.
The threading at the outer surface 25 of the launch adapter is, as shown in
The screw thread (helical groove 26) on the launch adapter 20 and the screw thread (bead sections 56) in the barrel 50 are configured to cooperate, i.e. by mating handedness, angles of attack, pitch etc.
The bead sections 56 forming the screw thread in the barrel of the
The screw thread (helical groove 26) on the launch adapter 20 (and thereby also the screw thread (bead sections 56) in the barrel 50) in this embodiment preferably has a pitch i.e. an angle of attack of the screw thread of 20.9° relative to a planar upper surface of the launch adapter 20.
Other embodiments of providing a mating set of screw threads are described below in connection with
When in this position, as shown in
The second end 60″ of the lever arm 60 may be pressed or slammed downward by the user hitting it, for example with the tip on a finger.
When the lower, second end surface 23 of the launcher adapter 20 is flush with the slanted surface 47 of the housing 40 of the toy top launcher 30, and the screw threads on the launcher adapter 20 and in the barrel 50 are no longer in contact, the launcher adapter will continue upwards and away from the toy top launcher 30, following a trajectory, indicated by arrow 32 in
In order for the rotation to be extended for a longer time, after the launcher adapter 20 has reached the surface, the lower end surface 23 of the launcher adapter 20 is preferably formed with a rounded shape as may be seen in
It will be appreciated, that a set/group of users, each being provided with a toy top launcher 30 and a toy top 10 comprising at least a launcher adapter 20, will be able to simultaneously or close after each other launch individual toy tops 10/launcher adapters 20, whereby the individual toy tops may bounce and/or rotate among each other thereby emulating a battle between them.
In the above, the function of the toy top 10 and the toy top launcher 30 has been described in connection with
Turning first to
In order to cooperate with the alternatively shaped launcher adapter 20, the toy top launcher 30 in
However, the slanted surface 47 is provided with a cylindrical depression 47′ configured for receiving a top flange 27 of the adapter body 21. The opening 51 to the barrel 50 is formed through a launch flange 57 forming the bottom of the cylindrical depression. The opening 51 to the barrel 50 further has been reduced in diameter (relative to the above embodiments, and relative to a diameter of the top flange 27 of the adapter body 21) to receive a tail body 28 of the adapter body 21, the tail body 28 having a smaller diameter than the top flange 27 of the adapter body 21.
Also, the side wall 52 of the barrel 50 is basically reduced to a rim at the opening 51.
In this embodiment, the screw thread of barrel 50 is provided by two indentions 56′ or notches formed diametrically opposite to each other on the opening 51 in the a launch flange 57. The screw thread in the form of the two indentations 56′/notches are preferably shaped and dimensioned to receive two helical beads 26′ formed on the side surface 25 of the adapter body 21, more specifically in the outer surface 25 of the tail body 28 of the adapter body 21.
The screw thread (helical bead 26′) on the launch adapter 20 and the screw thread (indentations 56′) in the barrel 50 are configured to cooperate, i.e. by mating handedness, angles of attack, pitch etc.
The screw thread (helical bead 26′) on the launch adapter 20 (and thereby also the screw thread (indentations 56′) in the barrel 50) in this embodiment preferably has a pitch, i.e. an angle of attack of the screw thread of 32.5° relative to a planar upper surface of the launch adapter 20.
Turning now to
In order to cooperate with the alternatively shaped launcher adapter 20, the toy top launcher 30 in
The different embodiment of the launcher adapter 20 is visible in
The screw thread (helical bead 26′) on the launch adapter 20 and the screw thread (elongate helical indentations 56″) in the barrel 50 are configured to cooperate, i.e. by mating handedness, angles of attack, pitch etc.
The screw thread (helical bead 26′) on the launch adapter 20 (and thereby also the screw thread (elongate helical indentations 56″) in the barrel 50) in this embodiment preferably has a pitch, i.e. an angle of attack of the screw thread of 20.9° relative to a planar upper surface of the launch adapter 20.
The embodiment of the toy top launcher 30 in
The lever arm 60 embodiment of the toy top launcher 30 in
It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. Many of the specific mechanical details have not been shown since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily complicate this description. For example, the specific materials used and the specific injection moulding procedure have not been described in detail since it is maintained that the person skilled in the art would be able to find suitable materials and suitable processes to manufacture the container according to the current invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA201970055 | Jan 2019 | DK | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/052190 | 1/29/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/157148 | 8/6/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700381 | Schmidt | Jan 1929 | A |
| 3018584 | Passariello | Jan 1962 | A |
| 3032921 | Greene | May 1962 | A |
| 3328909 | Blanton, Jr. | Jul 1967 | A |
| 4795396 | Lindstrom | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4932918 | Onoda | Jun 1990 | A |
| 5518437 | Nonaka | May 1996 | A |
| 5545068 | Asbaghi | Aug 1996 | A |
| 5827107 | Bears | Oct 1998 | A |
| 6769953 | Sutton | Aug 2004 | B1 |
| 8967130 | Victor | Mar 2015 | B2 |
| 9844734 | Garling | Dec 2017 | B2 |
| 20100282227 | Vanek | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| 20140090630 | Bird | Apr 2014 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 102179050 | Sep 2011 | CN |
| 204563582 | Aug 2015 | CN |
| 206535193 | Oct 2017 | CN |
| 208193645 | Dec 2018 | CN |
| 208319968 | Jan 2019 | CN |
| 1027325 | Aug 1994 | ES |
| 2015130932 | Jul 2015 | JP |
| 950004609 | Jun 1995 | KR |
| 2016026304 | Feb 2016 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Translation KR950004609Y1 (Year: 1995). |
| First Office Action issued in corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 202080011254.7, dated Apr. 29, 2022, 6 pages (English translation only). |
| First Technical Examination and Search Report issued in corresponding Danish patent application No. PA201970055, dated Sep. 3, 2019, 7 pages. |
| International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in corresponding international patent application No. PCT/EP2020/052190, dated Jun. 4, 202, 10 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220088497 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |
